Freezing, hardening, and dispensing cabinet and container therefor



Oct. 31, 1944.

L. A. M. PI-QIELAN 2,361,649

FREEZING, HARDENING, AND DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed July 27, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 1 f E I 49 2x22: B2B

[/YVE/YTOE Laws/4. M 1 /151. A/Y

Oct. 31, 1944. A A. M. PHELAN 2,361,649

FREEZING, HARDENING, AND DISBE NSING CABINET AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed July 27,' 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla. 4

Illlllll 9 /Nl/ENTOR LOU/J AM HELAN A 7 TO/Q/VEY Oct. 31, 1944. PHELAN 2,361,649

FREEZING, HARDENING', AND DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed July 2'7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f7 6, 9 400/3 4. mph 4140 FREEZING, HARDENING, AND DISPENSING CAIINET- AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Oct. 31, 1944. Y 4 A. M. PHELAN 1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filql July 27 1940 V7 6/ He 1] fie [Z l/Yl/i/Y 702. 400/: AMP/111,4

BY Ar roe/YE) Patented Oct. 31, 1944 FREEZING, HARDENING, AND-DISPENSING CABINET AND CONTAINER THEREFOR Louis A. M. Phelan, Rockton, 11!.

Application July 27, 1940, Serial No. 347,830

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to novel containers for ice cream and the like and to novel hardening and dispensing cabinet and a counter freezer therefor.

The present invention relates to a novel container and a compartment therefor, whereby the holding capacity of a given sized compartment and the elficiency of the cabinet are greatly in-; creased.

An important object of the present invention is to provide rectangular in horizontal section containers and a compartment therefor, and shape and position the containers in the compartment in a manner which will facilitate scraping' the cream from the containers by theuse of the conventional dipper, whereby the dispenser may use a single long pulling movement for filling'the dipper so as not to reduce the over-run, as is the result of filling the dipper by numerous circular and more difficult movements which are required with round containers.

An important object of my invention is to provide a container and a compartment therefor which occupies considerably less room in the cabinet than the conventional round in horizontal cross section container, thus to reduce thesize of the cabinet and floor space required.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel container and a cabinet having a dispensing and hardening compartment adapted to receive the containers in two transverse and two vertical rows, the containers being considerably wider than their thickness and positioned in the compartment with their wide sides parallel to the end walls of the compartment and cabinet. I

A further object of my invention is to position Therefore it will require less time to harden the An important object of my invention is to provide an elongated cabinet having a containerthe cabinet with a fresh-mix compartment occupying the upper portion of the remainder of the cabinet, and a counter freezer mounted on the top of the cabinet so as to overlie the fresh mix and container compartments.

I provide'means whereby the counter freezer and container compartment evaporator coils may be operated simultaneously and these evaporator coils operated individually and whereby the counter freezer cannot be operated when the compressor unit is not in operation, and means whereby the temperatures of the container and fresh mix compartments are automatically maintained.

I provide means whereby ice cream and the like, when frozen by the counter freezer, may be dispensed therefrom or drained directly into containers and the containers conveniently placed in the lower or hardening chamber for hardening and storage.

Generally stated, the objects of the present invention are to reduce original cost, reduce the floor. space required, reduce the time required for hardening, save current, insure uniform overrun and a uniform product, and generally improve the efiiciency of devices of the class.

It has been found with conventional round containers, that in' filling the dipper, the over-run of the cream is reduced because it requires several circular strokes; whereas my improved containers are placed with their wide sides transverse to the cabinet. Therefore, one straight long pulling movement of the dipper is all that is necessary and the over-run is not reduced in the container. In other words, the dipper is filled with cream having the same over-run' as the cream when removed from .the counter freezer or when placed in the container by the manufacturers.

A marked advantage of my improved container is that the distance between the walls of each of the containers and the center or core of the product being hardened is greatly reduced.

product and when hardened, it will be more .uniform than when hardened in a circular container.

view of the device illustrated I for use in handling the containers and showing a fraction of the container which is sectioned on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the lifting handle shown in Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic drawing showing threerectangular and two circular containers positioned in a cabinet compartment, their heights being the same and each of the rectangular containers having the same capacity as one of the circular containers,- each being drawn to scale.

Fig. 9 isa top view of the preferred form of my device, taken on lines 9-9 of Figure 10.

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cabinet, taken on line Ill-l of Figure 9, illustrating the position of the counter freezer.

Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the cabinet, taken on line |l-Il of Figure 10.

Fig. 12 illustrates a' partition slab for the container partition.

Fig. 13 is a, sectional view, taken on line l3l3 of Figure 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fractional portion of the slab shown in Figure 12, taken on line I4l4 of this figure.

I have evolved the present device having in mind the most convenient apparatus for use in, a confectionery store where the cream is primarily frozen by means of a counter freezer which is preferably mounted on the top of the cabinet. Clearly. as will hereinafter appear, my improved cabinet and containers may also be used to great advantage when the cream is furnished by a manufacturer. In either event, it is a great advantage to the merchant to have a cabinet with a container chamber deep enough for two rows of containers, one above the other, the lower space having a considerably lower temperature than the upper space.

The lower space may be classed as a hardening and storage chamber and the other or upper space may be termed a dispensing chamber.

As illustrated, the substantially rectangular containers are designated, by reference character A; the round containers in Figure 8 are designated by reference character B; members A and B are shown as positioned in ajcabinet compartment C; the counter freezer in its entirety is designated by reference character D; the cabinet in its entirety is designated by reference char? :bottom corners of the containers are preferably rounded, as illustrated.

A lid I is provided having a flange 2 which fits snugly around the open end of-the container, the lid having spaced handles 3-4 with which to lift the lid from the container. These handles are shaped as illustrated, so as to provide suitable rests when the containers are stacked, as illustrated in Figures and 11.

I provide preferably projections 4 near the top of the containers on diagonally opposite corners. The outer surfaces of the projections are formed as clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 6. The bottoms of these projections terminate in sharp offsetsas at 5.

I provide a lifting handle 6 having a. downwardly projecting member I with an inwardly extending hook 6 at its end. A suitably shaped tOngue 9 is secured to member 6, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Member 9 is spaced a suitable distance from member I whereby when the handle is positioned, as illustrated in Figure 6,

. with hook 8 under offset 5, the handle may be used for lifting the container. It will be understood that a, container may be lifted by a. single handle or two handles may be used for the purpose, especially when the container is full of cream.

It will be seen that in view of the radius of the curved corners of the containers and the shape of the projections 4, that there will be suflicient strength at this point to resist the bending action of tongue 6.

In placing containers Ain the hardening or dispensing, compartments, they are preferably closely spaced (see Figure 9). However it will be seenthat the curved corners of the containers provide room whereby the lifting device may be attached without-disturbing the position of the containers even if they are practically in contact with each other and with'the wall of the cabinet.

In the drawings, 1 illustrate a container formed or drawn from a single sheet. It will be understood that these containers may be constructed from two or more pieces having bonded'seams.

In Figure 8, I illustrate three of my improved containers A and two circular in cross section containers B in a, cabinet chamber C. Containers A and B each have the same height and capacity. The three containers A occupy the same space in the inclosure as the two containers B. Therefore my containers will, .as illustrated, save one third of the space required by round containers in addition to other davantages which will hereinafter appear.

Member E comprises side and end outside panels Iii-l3 and I l-14, -a bottom panel i5 and a top panel I6. I form a container compartment F by means of end panels l|-l1, side panels 2020, a bottom panel 2|, suitable lids and a short cover panel between groups of lids.

I form compressor compartment H including inner panels 22 and 25. The sides of this compartment are formed by means of panels l3 and the end is formed by means of panel H (see Figure 10) I-provide an entrance way 23 into compressor compartment H having a removable door 2d for convenient access to the compressor unit. The ceiling of compartment H is formed by means of a panel 25.

Compartment J is formed by means of and panels 26--26,and side panels 2| 21. Panels I1, 26 and 21 extend to and are secured to a ceiling panel 28 (see Figure 10).

Panel 28 is positioned a distance from panel l6. Panels I1, 20, 26 and 21, at their tops, have outwardly extending flanges, some of which are secured to panel 28 and others to transverse wood strips 29 and longitudinal wood strips 30, forming a closurebetween these flanges and cover panel l6 and defining access openings 3| and 32 to compartments F and J.

member 50, and flanges I provide a pair of lids 40-40 which are hingedly connected together as at 4| and I also provide a rubber strip 42 on which these lids rest. Lids 40 are, as indicated, formed to contain a considerable thickness of insulating material.

I provide a pair of lids 43-43, being hingedly connected as at 44 and having rubber strips.45 upon which lids 43 rest. Lids 43 are formed to contain a suitable amount of insulating material, as indicated. It will be seen that one lid only need be lifted to secure access to chambers F or J.

Clearly in longer cabinets, lids 43 may be trans versely positioned in pairs and two or more hinged pairs used instead of one pair as illustrated in Figure 1 and 10.

I provide a partition slab which, in its entirety is designated by reference character K,

its bottom and ends being secured to members I! and 2|, the upper edge of the slab terminating a short distance below the bottoms of lids 43 (see Figure 11).

Slab K comprises a pan formed by the bottom A number of coils of refrigerant tubes 52 are laid in this pan, as illustrated in Figure 12. The ends 53 and 54 of these tubes form the inlet and outlet connections for the coil, the ends extending through the flange of the pan.

flange 51 as at 51.

I provide openings 5858 in flange 5l,'one answerin as an air vent when hot asphaltum 49, or the'like is poured into the other opening. These openings may clearly be at-the other end of the slab and after the slab is filled with hot asphaltum, members 50 and 55 are placed be. tween large fiat surfaces and squeezed toward each other so these members tightly contact tube coils 52. Any surplus asphaltum may escape through openings 58. The asphaltum is then permitted to cool.

Clearly members 50 and 55 will be held in tight contact with coils 52 and answer as the partition K and a suitable support for the refrigerant tubes.

Panels 20 (see Figure 11) have flanges 60 so as to form pan similar to pan 5!! and coils 52 are positioned on the bottoms of these pans in substantially the same manner as shown in Figures 12 and 13. These coils are soldered to members 20 as at 59, after which the pans are filled with asphaltum and permitted to cool.

It will be noted that bottom panel 2| contacts flanges 5| and 60 to which it is attached by any suitable means. As a support for the container compartment, I provide spaced transverse supporting wood strips 6|.

Before cover It is placed on the assembly, the space between the outside and bottom panels of the cabinet and the inner panels of the compartments is filled with insulating material 65, preferably ground cork, to a point Eli-which may be an inch or. two below the top of the cabinet and then hot tar 61 is poured on the top of insulating material 65. The tar is filled slightly above the top of the panels and while itis still quite soft, member I6 is pressed into position on the cabinet so as to rest on panels l3 and I4 and wood strip 29 and 30.

Member I6 is made from stainless steel. It would be difficult to secure it without marring the surface of the cabinet and therefore I depend upon the adhesive efiect of the tar-to hold it in position.

- Member D is secured to the top of the cabinet, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 10, the sides overlying compartments F and J (see Figure 10) but this will not interfere with completely filling these compartments.

In Figure 10, I illustrate how inlet and outlet connections 53 and 54 extend to and through partition 22 and in Figures 9, l0 and 11, I illustrate how containers A are stacked in compartment F, the wide sides of the containers being positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet and the upper tier of containers resting on the handles of the lower containers.

It, will be understood that compartment Fmay act for the reception of'square or round containers. The compartment, is, however, designed particularly for the reception of rectangular containers as illustrated, so the clerk, when standing at the back of the cabinet, may fill the dipper with one long single stroke, as already described.

Containers L may be round, rectangular or square. Compartment J may be supplied with a cooling slab similar to the sidepanels in compartment F. However experience has proven that the material in this compartment will be kept sufficiently cool without this.

The liquefying unit in its entirety is designated by reference character M (see Figure 10). This unit is supplied with a condenser 68 and suitable controlling means for the motor which includes a valve controlling bulb positioned somewhere in the container chamber, preferably in one corner, as at 69 and expansion valves, one for the evaporator coils 52 and one for unit D, and other controlling appurtenances that are necessary for a device of the class. Suitable means are provided whereby the evaporator coils and the evaporator chamber in unit D may be operated simultaneously and may be controlled in a manner suitable for an installation of the class.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a compartment for the containers .wherein the lower containers are kept at a considerably lower temperature than the upper containers; that the control of the temperature in the container compartment may be automatic; that the fresh mix chamber will, by heat transfer, be maintained at a suitable temperature for preserving the liquid mix; that the compressor may supply refrigerant to the counter freezer, as well as the evaporator coils; that the clerk may, at liberty, freeze fresh mix and serve it directly from the freezer, or place it in containers which may be placed in the bottom of chamber F for hardening; that containers may be conveniently moved from the bottom to the top of compartment, F; that the containers will provide a uniformly hardened product; and that the dispensing operation is convenient and economical.

Having thus-shown and described my invention, I claim:

cross-section from top to bottom and having access openings at the top of the cabinet, a cooling coil arranged in heat exchange relation with the lower portions only of at'least the side walls of the compartment, the containers being arranged resting upon the tops of an underlying set, each container being substantially uniform in rectangular cross-section, the end walls thereof being spaced further apart than the side walls of the container, each of said containers being positioned in the compartment with its side walls parallel to the end walls of the compartment.

2. An arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said containers have lids with downwardly extending overhanging flanges and spaced upwardly extending elements adapted to support overlying containers.

3. An arrangement for temporary storage for confections; comprising a cabinet enclosing a compartment having arranged therein a number of containers for the confections, said compartment having a uniform rectangular cross-section from top to bottom and an access opening at the top thereof, a lid resting on. the top of the cabinet to close said access opening, a cooling coil arranged in heat exchange relation with the side walls of the compartment, said containers being arranged in the compartment in sets, one set overlying and rest ng upon the underlying set, each container being substantially uniform in rectangular cross-section, the end walls thereof being spaced further apart than are the side walls of the container, each container being positioned in the compartment with its side walls parallel to the end walls of thecompartment and the containers of said sets being arranged in two spaced rows, the rows being arranged parallel to the side wa1ls-of the compartment.

4. An arrangement as recited in claim 3 wherein a vertical partition is Positioned in the space between said two rows of containers and, extends from the bottom of the compartment upwardly toter'minate short of the bottom surface of said lid and a cooling coll arranged in heat exchange relation wtih the lower portion only of said partition 5. An arrangement for temporary storage for frozen confections, comprising a cabinet having a freezing compartment, means for refrigerating said compartment, said compartment being generally rectangular both horizontally and verticalin the compartmentin sets, one set overlying and ly, and a number of closely spaced containers each being generally rectangular both horizon-,

tally and vertically and having the comers thereof rounded, said containers substantially filling said compartment without substantial loss of space therein, the spaces defined in part by each pair of adjacent rounded corners facilitatingthe application of force selectively to thecontainers to remove them from the freezing. compartment.

6. An arrangement for temporary storage for frozen confections; comprising a cabinet enclosing a compartment having arranged therein a number of containers for the confections, said compartment having a uniform rectangular cross-section from top to bottom and having access openings at the top of the cabinet, means for refrigerating the compartment, the containers being arranged in the compartment in sets, one set overlying and resting upon the tops of an underlying set, each container being substantially uniform in rectangular cross-section and having rounded corners, the end walls thereof being spaced further apart than the side walls of the container, each of said containers being positioned in the compartment with its side walls parallel to the end Walls of'the compartment, the spaces defined in part by each pair of adjacent rounded corners facilitating the application of rounded corner being such that the space defined in part thereby facilitates the application of force selectively to the containers to remove them from the freezing compartment.

LOUIS A. M. PHELAN. 

